President Awards Medal of Honor to Afghanistan Veteran

by C. Todd Lopez

Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 - President Barack Obama placed the Medal of Honor
around the neck of former Army Staff Sgt. Clinton L. Romesha during a ceremony
yesterday in the East Room of the White House.

Romesha, the fourth living service member to receive the medal for service in
Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, earned the Medal of Honor
for actions Oct. 3, 2009, at Combat Outpost Keating in the Kamdesh district of
Afghanistan's Nuristan province.

On that morning, Combat Outpost Keating -- manned by only 53 soldiers and
situated at the bottom of a steep valley -- came under attack by as many as 300
Taliban fighters.

During the fight, the enemy breached the outpost's perimeter. Romesha, who
was injured in the battle, led the fight to protect the bodies of fallen
soldiers, provide cover to those soldiers seeking medical assistance and reclaim
the American outpost that later would be deemed "tactically indefensible."

"Throughout history, the question has often been asked, 'Why? Why do those in
uniform take such extraordinary risks? And what compels them to such courage?'"
the president said. "You ask Clint and any of these soldiers who are here today,
and they'll tell you. Yes, they fight for their country, and they fight for our
freedom. Yes, they fight to come home to their families. But most of all, they
fight for each other -- to keep each other safe and to have each other's
backs."

The White House ceremony was attended by several hundred, including
lawmakers, defense leaders, Romesha's family, and team members from Romesha's
own Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division. Also in attendance were Defense Secretary Leon E.
Panetta, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond
F. Chandler III.

The president said that upon learning he would receive the Medal of Honor,
Romesha displayed the brand of humility typical of many soldiers.

"When I called Clint to tell him that he would receive this medal, he said he
was honored, but he also said, 'It wasn't just me out there. It was a team
effort,'" the president said. "And so today we also honor this American team,
including those who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Included among those who died in the fighting that day in Afghanistan were
Pfc. Kevin Thomson, Sgt. Michael Scusa, Sgt. Joshua Kirk, Sgt. Christopher
Griffin, Staff Sgt. Justin Gallegos, Staff Sgt. Vernon Martin, Sgt. Joshua
Hardt, and Spc. Stephan Mace.

"Each of these patriots gave their lives looking out for each other," Obama
said. "In a battle that raged all day, that brand of selflessness was displayed
again and again and again -- soldiers exposing themselves to enemy fire to pull
a comrade to safety, tending to each other's wounds, [and] performing 'buddy
transfusions' -- giving each other their own blood."

Obama noted that it wasn't just Romesha who earned recognition for his
actions that day. From that battle, soldiers earned 37 Army Commendation Medals,
27 Purple Hearts, 18 Bronze Stars and nine Silver Stars, the president said.

"These men were outnumbered, outgunned and almost overrun," Obama said.
"Looking back, one of them said, 'I'm surprised any of us made it out.' But they
are here today. And I would ask these soldiers -- this band of brothers -- to
stand and accept the gratitude of our entire nation.

"God bless you, Clint Romesha, and all of your team," the president said.
"God bless all who serve. And God bless the United States of America."

The president then asked that the Medal of Honor citation be read, and
following that, he placed the medal around Romesha's neck.